Soup Hangover - Andy Warhol & Frederic Leighton

I know the Spring semester has yet to end but I did want to share some other projects I created this semester. I took design this semester and I have to say that this was one of my favorites.

We were supposed to take famous artworks and pretty much make a spoof of it. I have to say, I automatically searched Andy Warhol's works first because I find I could do many things with them. At one point I started over thinking my process and I lost some hope. Then, one day, I want to catch up on my VOGUE magazine issues (I had skipped over at least three) and I read the December issue featuring Jessica Chastain. Throughout her issue she had reinterpreted famous artworks, including the cover being a modern version of "Flaming June" (Frederic Leighton).

Apart from that, I remembered the Andy Warhol Campbell's Soup Cans piece was one of the most memorable artworks that I first saw when I was very young. I think my family and I went on vacation or something. I would share the evidence (and a very old photo of me) but I would have to go through the piles of photographs we have lying around the house.

Thus, the "Soup Hangover" was born! 

My professor said it was a very strong piece [but seeing that I forgot to write on the label and did it last minute before class, he had to take points off because I used the wrong key terms from the chapter (only me, right?)] and he very much enjoyed it. The one I shared above is the original. The one below is an add on of my sense of humor, which, in hindsight, I feel I should have turned in instead since it's more me. Oh well! 

I will post other works soon from this past semester. I've really enjoyed making most of them. 

XOXO... Alyssa

Photography Exercise3 - Documenting My "Day Off"

I documented my "day off" today. I only use air quotes because I never get to relax and I have a lot to do, which isn't the typical definition of a day off. Basically, I documented the day from my early morning breakfast routine to the places I went, with some things I saw along the way. I had to go to different shops today to find interesting pieces for my model to where for my photography [final project] shoot. It's my first real day off and I spent it in a car, as opposed to being lazy at home. But, it made for some interesting shots.

I didn't exactly shoot by the hour, because I had a huge to-do list and lost track of time a lot, but I think I fulfilled documenting my not-so-interesting life. It's not exactly a normal "day in the life of Alyssa", but my typical day consists of just school and work. That's the reason I decided to shoot today, rather than any other day. These are the kind of days I go out and see interesting people and explore new places.

Whipping up my eggs (yes, I eat three). 

Into the pan!

When there is a "Fashion Police" from the night before, I never miss watching it the next morning. 

Ran to this little vintage shop in search of clothing for a photo shoot.

Took this as I was leaving.

Arrived at another shop (Kathleen Sommers).

When I arrived back at my car, this woman was alternating between two dogs (in her car) and running back and forth between streets. A bit odd, but made for a good last minute capture.

Another shop - in the dressing room (saw it was 4:00 so took the opportunity with the mirror).

Stuck in traffic, going home.

I get the mail when I come home, even though it's my parents' mail. 

Just watered my strawberry plant (didn't think of doing so until after I had already watered it).

Studying

Ending my day with editing photos, messing around in my sketchbook and watching one of my favorite shows. 

Visual Exercise 1, Part 2 (Banal)

This is the second part to the first visual exercise. My "banal" are just so happens to be the photo studio space. It may seem bad to call it banal but think about it. It's a place to work on photography and give easy access between the darkroom, washroom, classroom & the small darkrooms. It's not really meant to be exciting! I actually got about two or three interesting angles in small areas but other than that it's basically a documentation of a room I'm in almost every day.

Photo Project 1 - Text Imagery

 This project didn't exactly turn out the way I planned, which is always disappointing. My initial plan was to use a model, a friend of mine, but because of her busy schedule competing with mine we were only able to meet up for a few hours and it turned out to be a disaster. The details aren't important but I did have another idea in my head but I was only able to use myself as a model, which is more than difficult with a Mamiya camera.

In the end I got three images with me in them along with one street photo I took of a restaurant. I had difficulties with focus (since I wasn't really able to look into the viewfinder and shoot at the same time) but I was able to pull it off, depending on the concept I came up with.


My first two photographs (below) are representational of this passion and obsession I have with fashion and designers. I love seeing stars on the red carpet wearing different designers and their new collections right off the runway. Every time they are interviewed they are asked "Who are you wearing?" It gives the designers some recognition. It's not what they are wearing but, rather, who. I am looking at a career in fashion design and hopefully I will be identified that way one day.

In the first photograph I surrounded myself with any designer shoes that I happen to own (since that's the only kind of designer clothing I own) with the words "Who Are You Wearing?" painted on my legs. I decided to stand in front of my closet door because it's a clean background and it's where my shoes live. The overlapping photo (the transparent overlap) is a photo I accidentally took of my shoes as I was setting up the shoot. I overlapped it to make it a bit more interesting than the tons of negative space I had at the bottom (the floor). The only element I wish I could have gotten rid of was my shelf on the far left.

This is probably my favorite of the bunch, and I'm glad I got a good color photo. I went with kind of the same concept here, surrounded by my shoes, as well as my VOGUE magazines stacked on the bed next to me. I didn't want to show my face because it kind of represents the "who" in the question "Who are you wearing?". I think another good somewhat unintentional element the works with the photo is the polka dots on my wall. It's a pretty popular print when it comes to fashion. The weakest point of the photo is that I didn't think about how I was wearing black leggings and that I have more black shoes. They kind of got lost in my leggings.

 This photo didn't come out the way I wanted. It's very out of focus and you can't exactly see what I did to my face. However, it's still pretty obvious that I styled one side of my hair and the other was left limp and natural. The words a little covered but it's implied that it says "Who are you?" In fact, the letters I added on in photoshop didn't really show up when it was printed and I have to say I like it better without my modifications. In the end, I love how I got a a very interesting and kind of haunting photograph.

My last photo was kind of a last minute add-on. Not much too it but this restaurant is covered in words. I just thought it was very fun and appealing, which is good for a restaurant business, obviously. I wanted to capture the building as a whole but to do that with the camera I had I would have had to stand in the middle of a busy street. The one thing I love about this photo is the large words on the left. I didn't get the whole word so it kind of makes you guess what it says. I don't even remember what it said!

Visual Exercise 2, Fortune Cookie

FORTUNE COOKIE

"Keep your eyes open. You never know what you might see."

Well, I definitely found something. It is interesting what kinds of things you can find while walking around campus. I didn't spot them, David did, but I did my best to find a good angle in order to capture them. I didn't want to just walk up and start photographing because for all I know they would have noticed me and you never know how people are going to react. Not that it's exactly a romantic let alone private place to be having that much fun but I still wasn't going to risk a possible bad reaction. Hey, to each their own! I'm glad I was at least able to capture something real, especially since I usually prefer something staged or in a controlled environment.