Final Project

Esen Yildirim
Artist Statement

My work explores living areas and objects that still remain alive today throughout the years of their age and decay. I’d like to bring present the neglect of these beautiful structures from a photographic viewpoint from their own period of time.

I am fascinated by black and white vintage photographs and the history that is involved with what we are left presented. The feeling of reminiscence has always inspired my work in photography. These photographs are captured in an essence that delivers the feeling of nostalgia and visually promote an antique feel. The decay and destruction in these current photographs is a natural part of life I have frozen for a certain period of time. The age will certainly advance and the decay will absolutely grow into something larger we can admire in our future.

Today, I’d like to admire the “now,” and let nature enfold the future of these structures.

(There are some additional photographs on this blog.  There are two photos I used in my photo book that are not included in this post.  I lost the edits. Thank you)

Critique of Galen's "New Landscape" Photographs

For the “new landscape” photograph assignment, Galen has done a good job producing six prints for the assignment. The idea of the “new landscape” theme is projected clearly within his prints. All of the six prints express the feeling of a modern altered traditional landscape. Some of the prints are stronger than the others in the subject of “new” landscape.
Viewing these six photographs as one whole project, they are very cohesive and deliver a certain message that is understood within the entire six. I think Galen has done a good job with keeping the photographs in a certain range of content that is smoothly sequenced with one another. Meaning, the content within the photographs, match well with one another, and is easily viewable and comprehended as one message, and or, project. I think that is important when delivering an assignment such as this one. Good job with that!
In class, we collectively always express to Galen that his photographs are recognizable due to his geometric style and leading lines that show within his work, I believe this series also carries that style. It is great to see that your specific style also shines through within your artwork. I enjoy how almost each of the photographs have different compositional value. One will contain the road off to the side, power lines off to the side, and power line trees off to the side. This is good framework. Again, like mentioned above, I really believe that the content that you have chosen to capture in these photographs really deliver the message of a changed world on new land. The color range within the photos are also very similar to each other photo, also contributing to the series.
My personal favorites are, the one with the train showing and also the one with the power lines directly in the center of the photograph. I believe I react to these two photographs due to the compositional framework. The reason being, I think that in these two photographs, Galen has captured everything the viewer wants and “needs” to see. I’m not searching for something else to find or look for. Some of the photographs are cropped too short or too small where I find myself wanting to see more sky or more ground. The photograph with the factory and the mountain behind it is good shot, but here is an instance where I would wish to more sky. I feel the mountain is almost cut off. This doesn’t necessary give me the feeling of a “landscape.” But then again, a landscape can be anything, these are just my personal criticisms on this specific photograph.
Overall, Galen has done a great job finding areas and capturing the details of portraying a newly designed landscape. I would like to see these pictures printed larger! I believe that they are intimate because they are smaller, but there is so much detail that I would like to have them visibly larger, also this may give the landscape vibe a boost.
Be careful when cropping and framing and continue with your great leading lines and geometric finds. Good job! Thank you.

Accomplishments: Goals Follow-Up

Goals
- Goals were taken from my previous post/assignment -

For Within 1 year:

To get an internship, graduate from Penn State University, move back to NJ/NYC, and find a job related to photography or design. Decide which graduate school to go to, then, actually get into graduate school. And, be close enough to go to my parent's house every night for dinner.

Accomplishments

To get an internship:

I have applied for a photography summer internship through my job, and I got the internship! However, I received a notice that since I will not be receiving college credits for it, I have to wait and see if I can get into the program with being technically a “college student.” (I think they need to see how many other applicants suit the job and are actual going to be receiving college credit.) I am still continuing my search for another internship and I will be hearing a decision back from the summer internship the week of December 10th.

Graduate from Penn State University:

All set to graduate in May! (Keeping my fingers crossed)

Move back to NJ/NYC, and find a job related to photography or design: 

I’m moving to Philadelphia in May (and hopefully will be interning at Urban Outfitters). I will be transferring to a different store in Philly through my current job until I find a photography related job in Philadelphia or NYC. I plan to stay there for about a year or so.

Decide which graduate school to go to, then, actually get into graduate school:

I haven’t done much research. However, I have narrowed the area down, and that is definitely New York City. I really, REALLY want to go to Tisch School of Art but they don‘t have a great MFA photography program. There is focus in film/video and much on performance art. I am looking into Parsons, I think I may apply there immediately. I just need to get money for all the applications. All I know is that have to be close to my family. That is extremely important to me. Therefore, my travels are East of here.  

Other Accomplishments

I am taking a portfolio preparation class next semester to complete a portfolio to present while job searching.

I will also be taking an independent study to further develop my skill with a large format camera. Film is direction I’d like to take for my own art.

I have 100% completely decided that I want to teach photography.

The New Landscape

Terry Barrett Read Response

    One the statements in this reading that stuck me was “Some of today’s criticisms will eventually become part of art history for future generations long after exhibitions have closed.” Hmm, that was a line that I read over a few times to really try and understand what that could mean. The art that was made yesterday defines the future of art and how people comprehend it. One may criticize a contemporary piece of work that defines a current state of mind or social culture that will pass on to further generations of critiques. What gets created may become visual for others to view and critique, once that work becomes public, it leaves it’s mark in the world.
    I agree with the first few paragraphs in Chapter 3 as well. I believe that every photograph demands interpretation just like any piece of literature or any other form of art. An audience should take time when viewing photography to really gain an appreciation to everything that makes up the photograph. Every photo has something different to say. Or, should I say, every photographer has something to say? We need to always remember that a photograph doesn’t just make itself, there is someone behind the lens that creates that specific shot. “People’s knowledge, beliefs, values, and attitudes-heavily influenced by their culture-are reflected in the photographs they take,” SO IMPORTANT! I hope that as a photographer, I reference these things and they become visible in my own work.
    I think what need to pay attention to when critiquing other’s photographs, is to always speak what I interpret of the photograph as a whole. I want to move away from critiquing technical qualities and go forward in critiquing my personal interpretation from their photograph, because, well, I think that is the most important aspect. It is beyond what is actually in the photograph, but what, me, myself believes is in the photograph.

Fact or Fiction

Appropriation: A Tribute to Andy Warhol and Marilyn Monroe

I wanted to re-do something from someone who has already re-done it!  I just thought it would be extra sassy to do so.  So, who else to copy and create from?  I would say the perfect fit is Andy Warhol!  I took the original photos of myself (in hopes to capture a Marilyn Monroe vibe), and the soup can previous to the editing.  Then I spent sometime trying to re-create a silkscreen essence for the finished work.  The one black and white photograph seems odd and out of place in comparison to the rest of the images, however, that actual picture, along with the others, were the main source of my inspiration.  So I added it in.  Plus, while researching photos from the era, many Marilyn Monroe photos had that similar black and white style. So why not?  I say.  I like variety.