The idea behind doing self-portraits in formal photography training is to focus the individual on who they are – partly to see if they know who they really are – and partly to see how clear thinking they are with regard to self. Many humans are not very self-aware and, more than anywhere else, the arts try to awaken in the budding artist a new threshold of self-discovery. Why? Because art flows from the self. The artist’s work, is an extension of the self.
March 19, 2009
Photojournalistic Uses of Images
In my opinion journalism AND photojournalism as we know it died during the recent Presidential election. Professionals and students alike should to be dissecting this troubling fact with the goal of helping us learn something about ourselves from it.
March 19, 2009
Emotional Connections & Photographs
On Nov 24, 2008 jason wrote:
Hi Dr. Ellen. I am currently studying creative product design at the University of the West of England. My current project is about the emotional connection people have with photographs (for example in a family photo album) and how the rise of digital photography may have an effect on this. [...]
March 19, 2009
Looking for Some Inspiration
We learn best by doing. Too many academic environments crowd students into inadequate classrooms that inhibit free movement and open dialogue amongst students and between the professor and students. Such environments fail to engage all but the most inspired students and very little real learning occurs.
March 19, 2009
My Thoughts on Self-portraits
Self-portraits are a continuing struggle (and preoccupation, in some ways) with artists of all kinds. Many artists do self-portraits, the thinking being that if one can adequately represent SELF then one can perhaps more adequately represent someone, or something, else.
