MIZA: 20th March

Mich Ihnen Zu Antworte_5 (me answering you)  

Hello how are you (English) and then you reply:

fein danke ihnen und sie (German)

  Meaningful or Meaningless?

Metaphorical?

What conversations and issues arise from this?   

John Berger says: "In every act of looking there is an expectation of meaning."   [Berger and Mohr, Another Way of Telling, 1982_www.artlex.com]  

MEANING:  What is conveyed or signified by something; its sense or significance. An interpretation. The viewer creates meaning in each and every image • METAPHOR: A word or thing that ordinarily designates one thing is used to designate another, thus making a comparison. One thing representing another; a symbol; an analogy; a similie

Liza

Fabian

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blogPAL Gareth visits the Department

Gareth Bright [GB] made a presentation yesterday at the Department for staff and students.  On osmosisPROJECTS, GB has been sharing his images and travel destinations since February. Yesterday having his presence in the real rather than virtual was a reminder, that no matter how accessible and 'wonderful' technology is nowadays for keeping in contact, exchanging and communicating_ conversing with someone at face value is still the most engaging. GB kindly 'dumped' all his images, video's and some movies from his presentation onto my desktop to share with you_ I will put these on the 'Botswana' external harddrive (password Gaborone). 

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This post is all about saying a big THANK_YOU & a SIYABONGA (Zulu) & a DANKIE (Afrikaans) to Gareth for taking the time to come and visit and share your 'way with Photography' with us, before you leave for Bangkok in the next two days.

I am including some of my favourite images from Gareth's collection and some comments made from students (who I will leave anonymous for ethical reasons). I am constantly trying to urge students to leave comments on my Blogs (some students would most probably agree that the word force is more appropriate)... but I am still puzzeled by their reluctance...I am trying to understand why when someone gives or shares something with you, one is unable to articulate your thoughts, or openly show a gesture of appreciation with text. For me it's like acknowledging the person and their endeavors, for example it's like saying thank-you or glad to meet you or thank-you for coming or thank you for sharing!

Anyway here are typed out (by me) responses from some of the written responses I asked students to write about straight after the presentation.

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I asked the students to "Please write down your thoughts" on:

1> What did you like about the session?

• To hear about other Photographers experiences. 

• It was interesting to hear from some one our own age

• Gareth is seriously interesting 

• Gave an idea of what was is happening in other countries

• eye opener

• His Photographs and engaging conversations about his work

• it was informing, an eye opener and intriguing 

• I learn't alot about documentary photography

• Thought provoking and interesting

• The way he interacts with people of other races_ how he captured the moment without being too emotional.

2> What did you not like about the session?

• the aircon 

• the sound

• the projector

• class was rowdy

• someones smelly feet

• class figidty

• little long_ need a break in between

• class disrespectful_ on cell phones

• I am scared to work as as War Photographer, you can easily die.

• the emotions from the images_ I am an emotional person

3> Do you have any suggestions for other visits from Photographers?

Tyrone Bradley

Liam Lynch

Paul Weinburg

Kevin Goss Ross

Jacki Bruniquel

Black Photographers

Roy Reed

4> What can I use from this session?

• The insight of looking at things in a different way

• the idea of putting aside all your fears and following your passion

• enjoy your trip and good luck in the future 

• one should think about a persons dignity and try to portray them positively not negatively

• improve Photographic skills

• incorporate video into my work

• different perspective to fuel my B&W Photography

• being open minded to my surroundings & looking at it from a different perspective_making photo/video

• I should go out there and do research and come up with good ideas_ I should inform myself with whats happening around me.

• being a photographer doesn't mean I can't do video_ I am going to try video. 

• Makes me think and look about where I am going to once I leave the Department.

• Gareth's encouragement

• Your will power, and the passion you have in Photography_ I would like to instill that in me one day.

• A deeper appreciation of my surroundings and to look at it from a different perspective.

• Use tools like writing and internet

• must multi-task and try to be more unique

• views of what a travelling photographer gets to experience 

5> Message to Gareth:

• Keep it up_ amazing Talent

• Can you invite me when you are travelling?

• You've been a great inspiration and motivation for me to get out of the rut and explore life

• Please come again

• invite me on Facebook

• keep up motivating aspiring photographers

• I like the way you can live with different places with different people and their cultures

• Please please please can I tag along

• Lovely to hear you still use film_ you are very talented_ look forward to seeing more of your work.

• Thanks for wisdom and advice :)

• Keep doing what you doing

• Bring more of your work_mwah :)

• Come back and keep us updated

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MIZA: 18th March

Mich Ihnen Zu Antworte_3
(me answering you)

Hello how are you (English) and then you reply:

fein danke ihnen und sie (German)

  Male / Female?

What  identities are represented by these juxtaposed artifacts?

How do we know or presume this and why do we make these assumptions?

What conversations and issues arise from this? 

IDENTITY: being who or what a person is_ and the characteristics that determine this • ASSUMPTION a thing that is accepted as true or certian without proof • JUXTAPOSITION: placing side by side/close together for contrasting effect

Liza

Fabian

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inspiration to ... The Authentic Saga

The Authentic Saga  

...is a self initiated collaborative project conceptualized by Dena Churchman sometime in 2010.

"No-one starts a deed/action, or rather, no-one in his sense ought to do so- without first being clear in his mind, what he/she wants to achieve by that deed/action and how he intends to conduct it."  

Carl von Clausewitz

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Inspiration Outline

Dena Churchman (DC) devised a set of 10 ?'s inspired by a project by Photographer Yann Arthus Betrand [YAB]  called "6 Billion Others".

GET A BETTER GRASP of DC's  PROJECT by clicking on "buka lapha" links and video below to gain insight into YAB's  project.

buka lapha 1

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 6 Billion Others? 

exerts from website click above on buka lapha 1 to view website

There are more than six billion of us on Earth

Time of screenshot 6:01pm on the 8th May 2011

Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s [YAB]  idea for 6 Billion Others, was born in 2003 from the simple desire to make contact with other people. When his helicopter broke down  in Mali he spent a whole day talking to the villager. He says "I dreamt of understanding their words, of feeling what linked us. Because, from up there, the Earth looks like an immense area to be shared". YAB believes that in order to learn to live together, it is first necessary to get to know each other. To take the first step is to ask questions, to listen, and to become a part of someone else’s story. By bringing together experiences on film from across the world, he hoped to display on a single site that 'speaks' of the diversity of mankind, and enables people to experience the universal nature of humanity as one listens to personal feelings on universal questions and this in turn create dialogue with each other. The ?'s  begin with the things that affect the lives of all of us: family, love, happiness, but also the things that divide us: war, certain values or beliefs.

Some commonalities that provided the outline filming were:

• A common questionnaire to begin with. Forty or so questions.

• A common framework. Each face was filmed in an identical manner: centred, vertical full frontal shots, to the camera.  YAB was  looking for frank and direct relationships, and placed an emphasis on the closeness of the face so that ones relationship is a direct one.
• A common approach. The equipment chosen is also relevant to the projects desire for intimacy and the personal. A light camera, a stand, two wired microphones: each reporter can manage the sound, image and conducting of the interview on his /her own. Trust is established during the exchange and is the key to sincerity.
• A story is written.  Each film has the richness of a dialogue: Each person responds and reacts through his or her personal story around a common theme, with the replies echoing and at other points colliding with each other. The meetings provoke and touch us, encouraging us in turn to question ourselves, for other people are just so many individuals similar to ourselves, who at the same time can enrich us through their differences, and through the reflections and perspectives they present to us.

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 Video exert below has been edited from www.ted.com

see original by clicking buka lapha 2 

 buka lapha 2

 

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MIZA: 14th March

Mich Ihnen Zu Antworte_3
(me answering you)

Hello how are you (English) and then you reply:

fein danke ihnen und sie (German)

  Interpretations, prohibitions, synergies and vacancies?

What are the similarities and differences of the representation of the symbol and the 'space' it could occupy? 

What conversations arise from this? 

PROHIBITIONS: the act of forbidding something • SYNERGIES: the interaction/effects of 2/more things when combined • VACANCIES: unoccupied, empty space

JUXTAPOSITION: placing side by side/close together for contrasting effect 

 

 

Liza

Fabian

 

 

 

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...playing around with video

I am no genius at this at all,

but I have been playing around with video...

Gareth Bright (GB) has sent me this link of  a video he just made whilst in Mozambique.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySvqIKiyg48

GB says:
"Share it if you may. Video for me is a way to look at the outside of my pictures, the surroundings etc...this is just a play on that and of course in black and white...with some nice music".

osmosisliza made a comment on YouTube: Love the tempo_ how one moves with a sense of caution from a "barren INDOOR landscape" to the outdoors where the tempo becomes more playful, whimsical, carefree and joyous_ My most favourite moment is when one gets a glimpse of the outdoors from what seems like a crack in the wall _ and ooh gosh_ love love love the shimmery palm tree. Beautiful metaphors (I have made associations with) and imagery with exquisite music to accompany them_ This video makes me feel happy!

osmosislizatube 1 sec ago 

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