Photo of the Day

Ok, so I'm editing some photos from this weekend where I went a did some shots for POSE. I have a few good ones which will be printed and left next time I go to Athens, and at here is the shot of the day from that shoot.I don;t know what it is, but I love shooting through things such as peep holes, binoculars, telescopes, and just plain holes. I like that these items naturally frame what I am shooting and it does push the idea of voyeurism. I think for this photo I will put the chair back in the same spot with the photos above it. I want passersby to question where I took the photo from, so I think the photo should go on the wall right above where this was taken. I also have plans for a few other photos I took. So I emailed Chris Steele yesterday, no word yet, but I am going to Douglasville tomorrow to shoot my brother Jamie (contact juggler) in a personal setting, and also shoot Jamie and Kelley feeding off of one another in a practice area. I'm going to minimize background clutter, but still leave one or 2 small things to show they are in a private area. Something Kelley had said to me during an interview was that out of everyone he performs and practices with, Jamie is the one he feeds off of the best. They both try to show the other one up, but in a playful brotherly rivalry type way. They push each other to be the best that they can be. I'm going to try to capture this on camera. I'm thinking bounced flash off of the ceiling or wall to give natural-ish lighting, but still well lit. Onward, to bigger things!
~*~Hayley~*~

And the start of show number 2!

Ok. So everyone is aware of the Scars exhibition in Atlanta being last night. For those who haven't heard already, it went very well. :) Since that stress is off my shoulders for the time being, time to focus on show number 2! The Show Must Go on is right around the corner. I feel my time slipping away as I type this. I have soo much to think about and to start planning, I feel swamped. So, to put this all down now. I have the place booked. I have the band pretty much booked. I have the food planned. Now to actually get some work. (I hear the actual photos are the important part, who would have guessed). I am going to revise my artist statement to include more about the performers. As I have mentioned a million times over, I want to focus on every aspect of the performers' lives. I want to include works from their private practice space, to the public performance space, and even the connection they make with the audience. Due to a lack in funds, I am unable to attend the "peep show" that is coming to Little Five Point on Thursday. *sad face*. I haven't heard back from Thimblerig Circus, but in all fairness to them, they are quite busy with the Georgia Renaissance Festival coming up. I would like to get in touch with Chris Steele aka the Amazing Stab Tuggo.<-go check out his website (WARNING! Might make you cringe...But it's worth it.) I think I might email him a few minutes to get a date set to do some stuff. I'm also looking into doing like a small Happening style performance in front of the UCC around lunch time with some jugglers. Just to get some reactions to what they are doing and what not. At the top are some new things I was working on. Nothing great, but just some starting points, although I feel like I'm back at square 1 with them. I do plan on re-shooting some those, especially the one of the 2 contact juggling balls together. I want to light it in a way that highlights the nicks and dings in the standard acrylic to show that although he is really good at contact juggling, he still drops it. Anywhoozle, just thought I would update.
~*~Hayley~*~

A bit last minute

I was on facebook and found this link. Atlanta Celebrate Photography is looking for proposals for the 2011 ACP public art piece. The deadline is February 28th! We can submit as a group or as individuals. Check it out and see what you think.
~*~Hayley~*~

In case you didn't know....

Hehe, I totally got this shirt for Christmas from my brother and his fiance and thought it would be a good way to make this dreary day much brighter. And yes, I do shoot people. :) So the shoots last night went well, I haven't edited them yet, but I was happy with the feel I got from the photos. I also did another interview with my other brother (the one that gave me the awesome shirt) before we started shooting and we also bounced ideas. He had an idea to appease everyone. Focus the larger prints on the performers while including numerous smaller prints of the audience reactions, whether the reactions are good, or just ignoring. The reasoning is that for Kelley, the reaction of the audience kind of dictates what he does. If a group of people like what he is doing, then he will do more, but if he doesn't get the reaction he wants, he stops and moves on. He also brought up the idea that everyone is performing in some way in everyday life. To look at myself as a performer to my committee. See what they like, keep pushing that, but at the same time, back up my opinions and my views because in the end, I do this to make myself happy. I also found out that Kelley uses his talents as a mean to connect with people much like Jamie does. But about the shoots. I did some shots of Jamie at work with a few onlookers. Jamie was not the main focus, but he was still in the shot. I also worked on intimate shots of Kelley. I got shots of him messing up and dropping the balls, shots of him looking at the camera making a face, shots of him hula hooping... I got one shot I really like that has him bending to pick up a ball, but only his leg is in the shot. In context with other photos, I think this one would be interesting. He also agreed to dress up like a clown when we go in public for photos. (Yes, nose and all). I pitched the idea of the carte de visite to Perry and he really liked the idea. :) I think I am finally getting a handle on this. :) Now, didn't that just brighten up the day.
~*~Hayley~*~
(P.S. Gotta love the "deer in the headlights" look I have in the photo...Priceless!)

Here we go

Ok, it is time to dive in head first; no more testing the water. I have booked the place for my senior show, room 200 at Mandeville Mill during the week of April 11th. I have the ok for wine and for Mile Train. I also have 2 shoots tonight and I'm going after the idea of getting the personal space photos at home and also the connecting with people in public. To answer the question about performer doing their performance for themselves, Jamie explained that he uses his art as a way to allow himself to open up to others and to allow him to feel less nervous when talking. His juggling acts kind of like an ice breaker and it allows him to connect to other people. That connection is something I hope to maybe capture tonight, if I'm lucky. I can't even name all the times I would be talking to him and have someone come up and ask how he does it. Back to getting into this, I have also contacted Thimblerig Circus with the hopes that they will allow me to shoot some practices and maybe even put them in public for a bit. I was thinking about having a couple of performers coming out to UWG campus for a bit and just do their thing to get some reactions. I also have been thinking of incorporating some older traditions in side show performances and have each performer sit for me with the tools of their trade so that I could create some cartes de visites. These would be displayed either all together with a short bio of each performer or with near the image of each performer. This would also allow the performers something to take from my exhibition as a "Thank you" for helping me. ( I would give them their own copy.) I also thought about doing these with the large format camera to add vintage feel to them. As for POSE, while I am shooting my performers tonight, I think I'm gonna ask them to sit for POSE for me since we will be shooting. I also went to see the space at Apache Cafe, I was kinda disappointed with the area. I really thought my car was gonna get jacked. The cafe was closed but I mailed my paperwork in. I also just realized like 10 minutes ago, the show is in 1 WEEK! AHH!! Gotta print and frame! My week will be busy. Anyways, just an update on what I have been thinking and doing.
~*~Hayley~*~

A little motivation never hurt anyone

Just something I saw when I was walking into the studio. I felt a moment of inspiration to take the photo and actually made a point to go across the parking lot, get my camera, change my lens, and then take the photo. Not exactly what I had hoped for, but I like it. I would have taken more, but the bird flew off while I was checking my light meter. I really wanted some lens flare because that is what I saw, but I like the depth of field, the color, and the clouds. Today has been semi productive. I have gone on two out of three shoots so far. (Still have to shoot the basketball game tonight.) I have worked on paper work for the show in Atlanta. I wish I could figure out how to get motivated. I don't feel like it is senioritus, I feel more like I have hit a brick wall with what I want to do. I need another artist's point of view on my subject matter (Side shows) before I can find my stance. I did have a conversation with my brother about what it means to him to be a self-proclaimed carnie in contemporary times. I might post the conversation on here as a motivator. I feel like my project has moved away from the performers and has been pushed towards the audience, which is not my interest. Jamie said in the interview I did with him that he is a performer first and foremost for himself. I need to figure this out. Maybe have some photos of Jamie practicing his tricks in his room, then him in public connecting with people, then some of him with other performers, then some of him in a performance setting. Like a before, during, and after kind of progression. Work with with a few performers. Pick 2 weeks where I can dedicate per performer. First 2 with Jamie, 2 with Kelley, 2 with David, 2 with Thimblerig Circus, 2 with Chris Steele, and maybe in the end have a meeting of the minds. Complete this with some video work of the performers being their selves, the conversation that goes on between me and them while shooting... I need an assistant. As for POSE, I need some vict...I mean volunteers to come out with me for a few hours to do some photos. Any takers? Facebook me or comment me here and let me know so we can get something set up.
~*~Hayley~*~

Different look at a photo

Ok, so here is the desaturated version of the scar on the knee with the black and white version above it. I think the desaturated one looks better, but I still feel like it isn't as strong as some of my other work. I might just have to retry this one.Let me know opinions.
~*~Hayley~*~
P.S: The photo at the top I had over looked while editing. I find it works better in black and white than the other image. It's a better texture to me.